tion of Berryville, and in this position awaited any movement of Johnston, with the evident design of holding him in check, or attacking him in flank if he endeavored to march to the assistance of Beauregard by the route of Ashby's Gap.

It was only at one o'clock in the morning, on the 18th of July, and when the "Grand Army" had driven in the Confederate advance force at Manassas, that a telegraphic despatch from the Government at Richmond announced the critical state of affairs to Johnston. He was directed, if practicable, to send his sick back to Culpepper Court-House, to evacuate Winchester, and hasten to the assistance of Beauregard.

The good judgment showed by General Johnston in the evacuation of Harper's Ferry now became apparent. The road to Manassas was unobstructed, and the way open for his march. To go to the assistance of the Army of the Potomac, it was necessary either to defeat General Patterson or to elude him. The latter course was chosen as the most speedy and certain, and preparations were immediately made to commence the movement. The number of the sick-some 1,700-rendering it impossible to remove them at so short a notice, they were left at Winchester; and the defence of that point, where some earthworks had been thrown up and a few heavy guns mounted, was entrusted to the militia of the region under Generals Carson and Meem. Stuart posted a cordon of cavalry pickets from the neighborhood of Smithfield along by Summit Point and Rippon to the Shenandoah, completely cutting off all communication and concealing every movement; and having thus guarded against every contingency in the best manner possible, Johnston left Winchester behind him, and commenced his march by way of Ashby's Gap, toward the east.

The valley region will long be alive with traditions of this great flank movement, and the spirit exhibited by the men. They had so often formed line of battle in front of the enemy, only to retire afterwards without fighting, that, as we have said, the troops at one time nearly broke out into open murmurs against their commander. They did not know that frequently,

when his bristling guns threatened the foe with their grim muzzles from every hillock, those guns were scarcely supplied with a round of ammunition, and that no one could be more disappointed at the necessity for retiring than the general himself. Now, however, when the order for the march to Manassas came, all murmurs disappeared. They responded eagerly to the inspiring summons, and filled the air with cheers. Through Frederick and Clarke, across the Opequon and through the little village of Millwood, wading the clear waters of the Shenandoah with its margins of drooping foliage, and toiling up the rough pathway through Ashby's Gap, the troops went upon their way, without rations, ignorant of their destination, caring for nothing, and knowing one thing only, that the moment for action had arrived. On the way a message from Beauregard reached Johnston by an officer who killed his horse to carry it. This message was: 66 If you wish to help me, now is the time." Johnston hastened on, his troops half famished, but with spirits that rose above hunger and fatigue. Stuart drew in his pickets, slowly put his little column in motion to cover the rear, and, striking across by Berryville, passed last through the Gap, and then pushed on to the front. At Piedmont the exhausted infantry were embarked on a train of the Manassas Gap Railroad; the cavalry and artillery continued their march, and the Army of the Shenandoah hastened toward Manassas.

The larger portion of the troops arrived about noon on the 20th of July. Among the first was Jackson's brigade, which was directed to take up a position in the pine thickets opposite Mitchell's ford, the centre of the Confederate line.

The morning of the memorable 21st found Jackson here, with 2,611 muskets, awaiting orders.

CHAPTER XI.

ADVANCE OF THE GRAND ARMY.

THE battle of Manassas possesses an interest peculiar to itself: It was not remarkable for the loss on either side; indeed, the casualties were comparatively trifling. Beyond exhibiting the prowess of the Southern troops, it accomplished no tangible results. And yet this battle will continue to hold its place among the most celebrated conflicts in the annals of the world.

The explanation of this singular attraction will be found in the terribly dramatic character of the conflict. It took place under circumstances which drew to the arena the eyes of all the world. Here two great races-members of a Republic which had held together for three generations-first tried their strength upon the battle field, and fought breast to breast for victory.

It was the first great battle of the war; was fought with stubborn persistence and enormous bitterness. Hour after hour the Northern and Southern lines reeled to and fro on the bloody plateau, in desperate attempts to remain the masters of it; and the world still listens to the story of the shifting fortunes of the hard-fought day with indescribable interest. Much more absorbing is the subject to those who took part in the engagement. Its bloody scenes rise up once more before the eyes, and its thunders again ring in the memory.

The fortunes of this memorable day were decided, as we shall show, by the "First Brigade" of the Army of the Shenandoah, under Jackson. The battle is thus intimately connected with the subject of this volume, and we shall give its main events, leaving, however, to the regular historian of the entire Revolution, the task of gathering up and placing upon record the minute details.

The blow about to be struck at Manassas was intended by

the Federal authorities to be decisive, and many things com bined to make them certain of success. The North had re sponded to the appeal of the President with immense promptness and enthusiasm; and when he called for an army of 400,000 meu and a loan of $400,000,000, Congress had voted these great supplies with acclamation. Volunteers to invade the South rushed to the Federal standard in great numbers, and events occurring about the middle of July increased still further the general enthusiasm. General Pegram, of the Confederate army, was forced to surrender his whole command at Rich Mountain, in Western Virginia, and General Garnett was defeated and killed at Carrick's ford. Everywhere disaster seemed to attend the Southern arms, and there appeared to be some justice in the dictum of the Northern journalists, who had described the revolution as a "local commotion" only, or, in language still more forcible, as an "unborn ta dpole." Until the capital of the Confederacy, however, was captured, and the government dispersed, the great end was unaccomplished. The Southern forces at Manassas lay in the path; Patterson had accomplished nothing against Johnston, and to defeat these two bodies of troops was essential to the Federal success. To attain this important object, what was called by the newspapers the "Grand Army" was speedily organized at Washington.

Great attention was paid to the organization and equipment of this force, upon which so much depended. The troops were armed with the best weapons, and the artillery was numerous and excellent. The cavalry arm was numerous but defective, and two or three years of hard fighting were necessary to show the importance of that branch to the service; but at this time cavalry was not considered necessary. It was universally believed at the North that the splendid body of infantry assembled at Washington would be able to march, without serious opposition, to Richmond, and the campaign appears to have been regarded rather as a summer excursion than as the initial movement of a long and bloody war. This conviction was apparent in the personal equipments of the men, and the articles of con